Secret Service studying 'motives and behavior' behind school violence

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- CNN has confirmed the U.S. Secret Service has been coordinating a study of recent incidents of violence in the nation's schools, looking into "motives and behavior" behind school shootings like the April 20 massacre at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado.

The Secret Service would not offer further details of the study. The New York Times reported forensic psychologist Robert A. Fein and Secret Service Special Agent Bryan Vossekuil have been visiting prisons, talking with students who committed violent acts.

The Times reported the team hopes to complete a training manual for police and school officials to help them recognize and deal with potentially dangerous students. The Times also reported the service will convene a conference later this month in the Midwest to discuss their research.

The team of Fein and Vossekuil published a 1995 study on so-called targeted violence: stalking, workplace violence, and attacks and threatened attacks on public and prominent officials.